SC booze ban: Spike in cases of drinking in Chandigarh’s public places

SC ban on liquor sale near state, national highways fails to contain menace; half of 300 such cases since Jan reported in April, May.
In last 24 hours, the city police arrested three persons for drinking in public places. (Representative image/Shutterstock)

Drinking in public places has gone up in the city after the Supreme Court’s order banning the sale of liquor near state and national highways came into effect, if figures are of any indication.Half of the 300 cases registered for drinking in public since January were reported in April and May alone. The ban order came into place on April 1. The apex court had issued the ban order to check fatal accidents due to drink driving.Three held in 24 hoursIn last 24 hours, the city police arrested three persons for drinking in public places.While Rajesh Kumar of Dhanas was arrested while consuming liquor at public place near the local fish market, Manoj Kumar of SAS Nagar was arrested from the Sector-47 market Surjit Singh of Rajpura in Patiala was held at Burail. They were released on bail.People are seen drinking in various public places such as community parks, parking lots and markets. Some even resort to drinking inside their cars.Cops increase evening, night patrolThe police had even carried out special drives for three days. They have also increased the frequency of evening and night patrolling to keep tabs on such elements.“There has been an increase in the number of cases of drinking in public. We have been acting tough to check this menace,” said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Eish Singhal.